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What are the symptoms, signs, and issues that should alert mandatory psychiatrist consultation? 1. Inability to cope with problems and daily activities. 2. Marked personality change. 3. Strange or grandiose ideas. 4. Excessive fears, worries and anxieties. 5. Prolonged depression, apathy, sadness or irritability. 6. Feelings of extreme highs and lows. 7. Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits. 8. Excessive anger, hostility or violent behavior. 9. Abuse of alcohol or drugs. 10. Thinking or talking about suicide. Parents of children/adolescents should also watch for these signs and symptoms: Frequent outbursts of anger or temper tantrums Persistent nightmares Hyperactivity Defiance of truancy, theft and/or vandalism Intense fear of weight gain Prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death Persistent aggression Change in school performance and/or poor grades despite quality curriculum, quality teaching, strong efforts. |